Oscillating joint connection



Jan. 29, 1935. J. N. STRAUSS OSCILLATING'JOINT commcuou Filed May 28, 1928 I v ailNVEN oR.

Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE '7 Claims. (ditar-'90)- Ihis invention relates to oscillating joint connections for relatively movable parts such, for example, as are commonly used in automobiles to connect parts of the steering mechanism or to connect a shock absorber with a vehicle axle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cohnection which shall be rugged and durable, which shall require no lubrication, and which shall maintain atig'ht connection, without lost motion,

| over long periods of time without adjustment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the-invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the i accompanying drawing, in which, Fig. l is aside elevation of oneface of the con-,

nection;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively, of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the connection comprises a housing 1 having a shank 2, which may be threaded or otherwise formed for connection to a rod or other part. The housing has a cavity 1 3 formed therein which receives the .ball 4 having a shank 5 also-threaded or otherwise formed for connection to a rod or other part. Also located within the cavity 3 betweenthe walls of the cavity and the ball 4 is a resilient packing. preferably of rubber comprising preferably a pair of similar rubber rings 6 and? having their interior surfaces shaped generally to fit the ball 4; As illustrated, the said rings preferably lie in planes which are perpendicular to the normal axis of the shank 5.

Located between the rubber packing rings and the ball, and bridging the space (if any) between said rings is an anti-friction or self-lubricating liner, preferabLv of metal such as graphlted bronze, said liner preferably comprising two similar segments 8 and 9, having abutting edges spaced apart somewhat asillustrated. The rubber packing'rings Band 7 are preferably maintained under pressure within the housing, the closure plate 10 being provided to fitwithin the open side 01' the cavity, and being pressed against the packing in such manner as to main!- tain moderate pressure thereon. The said plate 10 may be maintained in proper positionby rolling the edgeofthe flange 11.

As will be observed, in an oscillating joint of this construction the relatively moving parts are cushioned by the resilient packing against either thrust or pull which may be applied thereto in any direction, so that the shock of suddenly applied force may be eased somewhat. Furthermore, by reason of the pressure-applied to the packing, as wear occurs the resilient packing expands so that a tight joint without lost motion is maintained at all times. 5

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described. the 10 combination of a socket member provided with a recess having one open side, a rod extending through such opening and having a spherical end, two semi-spherical, self-lubricating bearing elements disposed about said end, and compressible material disposed in such recess about such when ical elements, and means for reducing the size of said opening and for compressing said material against thewalls of the socket. 4

2. Ina device of the character described, the so combination of a socket member provided with a I recess having one open side, a rod extending through the opening in said side and having a spherical end, two semi-spherical, self-lubricat-- I ing bearing elements disposed about said spherical end, and yielding rubber filling blocks disposed in such recess about such bearing elements and filling the-space therebetween, and means for reduclng the area of the opening of said side and for maintaining said blocks under compression within said recess.

3. In an oscillating joint, in combination, a housing, a ball extending into said housing, a plurality of" packing rings of resilient material forming a socket for said ball' and spaced there- '35 from, and anti-friction lining between said ball and packing and bridging the space between the adjacent rings, said lining comprising a pair or metallic segments having abutting edges.

4. In a joint, in combination, an element hav- 40' 'ing an enlarged spherical portion; a housing havingan opening through a wall thereof and comprising a socket, said opening being sufilciently large to allow said spherical portion to be inserted therethrough into said socket; ccmpressible material disposed within said housing and about the spherical portion located in said socket; andmeans for reducing the area of said opening to preventthe withdrawing of said spherical portion from said socket, and for permanently com- 5 pressing. the compressible material.

1 5. In an oscillating joint, in combination, an. element having an enlarged spherical portion; a

'housing formed in one piece and having an opening through a wall thereof, said opening being ing, and for permanently compressing said rubsuflioientiy large to allow said sphericalportion to be inserted into said housing: a mass of rubber composition disposed within said housing and about the said spherical portion; means coacting with the said wall of said housing to reduce the area ot'said opening to prevent the withdrawing of said spherical portion from said housber composition the dimensions of the rubber composition and the internal dimensions of said housing being such as to permit flow of the rubber when compressed.

6. In a joint; in combination, a housing hav- 7.

ing a circular interior cross-section, resilient deiormable bearing supporting means in said houssuriaces provided with ing having supporting tace, and a spherically bearing member mounted in said supporting means whereby forces exerted by said bearing member are transmitted to said housing in a plurality of diverging components. Y JOHN N. STRAUSS. 

